A journey of many steps

Ask Di Atherton if she ever thought that she would have a career counselling individuals and you would get a resounding no. Describing herself as an introvert and naturally shy, her journey into becoming a Reiki practitioner and life counsellor was unexpected yet one she has grown to love and thrive in.

Di attributes the ‘awakening’ in her interest in the mind, body, spirit connection as being driven by the relaxed lifestyle, fresh air and proximity to nature. Rather than viewing the closing of the B&B as a failure, she reflects now that this was yet another stepping stone in her journey. By opening herself up, she explains that Reiki was “able to find her”.

Trying to explain Reiki to the layman, Di provides the analogy of a wave coming up the beach and water flowing into holes left by the sand. The practice of Reiki, she says, is moving energy into the “holes” where our body needs it. Whether you are fighting a headache or cancer, the very root of every disease is metaphysical, Di explains and through the channelling of life force energy a Reiki practitioner is able to activate and support the natural healing processes of the client’s body and help restore physical and emotional well-being.

Ultimately for Di it’s about heart-centred living, and alternative therapies bring one to a space where that can happen. Any good alternative healer is going to work within the Six Step Guidance Programme (see below) whether it’s Reiki, Yoga, Chinese medicine, reflexology etc.

The thing is that any of these therapies should not be considered ‘alternative’, most have been around for 1000’s of years. For us all living mindfully and being aware of ‘whole health’ is becoming essential, no longer a luxury. It’s time to start listening to our bodies.